Thinking of returning my dog to the rescue

[HappyMealWithLegs]

I’ll start by saying I am prepared for a flaming. Didn’t think I would be in a position to write a post like this but here we are. I will try to put as much information as I can, sorry if it is really long.

2 and a half years ago we adopted our dog, he is now 10, he’s a greyhound. At the time I was able to work from home 3 days and go into the office 2 days, my daughter also worked from home 3 days and was at college 2 days, so one of us was around all the time and it worked out fine.

In April, 2 weeks into lockdown my husband had his hours cut at work. It was either take the reduced hours or be made redundant so he took the reduced hours and took on another job in a supermarket. We are down a lot of money each month. Husband is now working 6 days a week pretty much from 7am until 10pm. I had to increase my hours and am now in the office 5 and a half days a week (Saturday until 1pm). On top of that, my daughter changed jobs (in a bid to help out with money partly) and is working 32 hours in shift patterns that change. Basically, the dog is now on his own 6 days a week from 7 in the morning until I get home at half five. We sold my car at the beginning of May for a few hundred quid and that paid for us to get a dog walker to come in for one hour every day – this obviously is still terrible in terms of how long he is alone but was better than nothing. That money has run out now. I have to get up at five every day to walk him for an hour to try and tire him out so he sleeps when he is alone but I KNOW this isn’t a solution and I feel guilty. The guilt is making me feel sick every day.

Dog is now messing in the house (wee and poo ) because he is alone so much, not his fault but he can’t hold it. To make it worse our house is rented and I’m terrified he is doing permanent damage to someone elses property. Nothing is going to change – we are behind on rent and will have to continue working like this until we can get straight.

I feel like we have been backed into a corner and have to return the dog to rescue. I don’t know what I want from this post really. Has anyone done this? Am I the worst person in the world? The stress of the situation is making me ill – tough, I know, I took on the dog but I can’t see a way out of this situation without returning him. What would you do

Don’t get any more dogs if you can’t commit to look after them

Look, i'm sorry, I wasn't going to respond to nasty comments but this is just unfair. I have had dogs ALL my life, always rescues. All my pets have been rescues. I have never ever been in this situation before. Could I have predicted a global pandemic that meant job losses and three people (including my kid!) having to work every hour they can just to make ends meet? No.

Thank you for being so kind (mostly!) everyone. I don't feel like I deserve it at all. Sat typing at work and trying not to get teary at my desk.

I have emailed the Blue Cross Home Direct Scheme and asked for some information. I will see what comes of that.

I’d contact the rescue to discuss it. If he was a long-term resident they’ll want to help. Are they local to you? They will have dog-walking volunteers, so perhaps they’ll be able to support you to keep him at your home. It’s not your fault.

Ah OP such a sad situation that's no ones fault.

Practically can you confine him to an area of the house with hard floors? Or even temporarily pull carpets up if that's not an option, just to protect them in the short term.

My ddog currently not able to be walked (post op) and she has messed in the house a couple of times. I use biological washing liquid in the mop bucket to clean up, something to do with enzymes breaking down the urine and stopping in smelling doggy.

Stalk other dog walkera you see out and about and see if a regular will maybe pick him up when they walk theres. You could return the favour maybe, you do mornings, they do lunchtime.

See if anyone can babysit him at their house for a few hours a day. Could any of you take him to work with you? Know it's rare but I have worked in 1 place that would have been allowed.

And apart from the mess, he is probably OK left. My dogs a whippet, she sleeps most of the day and could probably be left for the day regularly without making a mess. What food is he on? Mine has James Welbeloved, which in normal circumstances (painkillers upset her tummy I think) would mean she wouldn't pee or poo if left, especially if she is being walked every morning and every evening for an hour. Look into his diet, if he's on tinned or dry food full of additives he's probably pooing more because it's like us eating junk food, makes us thirsty and gives us looser bowels.

I'm involved with a breed specific rescue, and we get dogs coming back to us who are sadly coming back due to change in circumstances just like yours, we never judge and seek out permanent fosters or new families depending on the needs of the dog - contact the rescue, they will be happy you went back to them.

In terms of the messing in the house, we have wooden floors throughout so it is easily cleaned, it is just the long-term damage of the urine sitting/seeping under the floors (whilst we are out) that I am really worried about. LL has been absolutely amazing about us being behind on the rent, but I feel like I am royally taking the piss to say oh also, my dog has ruined your nice wooden floors as well He has always been crap (ha) at being clean in the house. He likely has some brain damage from hitting the rail a lot whilst racing. His race card shows fall after fall and the track vet thought he had some damage due to it. Hence the slightly crackers behaviour

And apart from the mess, he is probably OK left. My dogs a whippet, she sleeps most of the day and could probably be left for the day regularly without making a mess. What food is he on? Mine has James Welbeloved, which in normal circumstances (painkillers upset her tummy I think) would mean she wouldn't pee or poo if left, especially if she is being walked every morning and every evening for an hour. Look into his diet, if he's on tinned or dry food full of additives he's probably pooing more because it's like us eating junk food, makes us thirsty and gives us looser bowels

He is raw fed. I think the messing is just him if you get me. Plus maybe age.

Oh OP you have all had a tough few months . Because he’s 10 and been with you a while I would be trying everything for him to stay with you —like you are. I wonder if you could ask locally on a local Facebook page or similar for someone to volunteer to walk your dog maybe someone retired for example ( eg my dad would do this as he loves dogs but doesn’t want one full time ) - or over the holidays a local teenager? You could still ‘vet’ them by interviewing them to check they are ok. Also invest in a web cam / monitor to see him during the day to check on him? If that’s affordable.

Oh do fuck off @PineappleSquosh. Did you not notice the global pandemic?

There are a couple of people here who have said they would consider having him but you don’t appear to have replied to them.

I couldn’t bear to take any dog of mine back to a rescue and would be exploring every available option first.

@nicky7654

The stress you will cause your poor dog in going into a shelter will be far worse than him being alone during the day. It will be cruel. Surely you love your dog enough not to dump it? Clean up the poo then take dog.for another walk before you cook tea. It's not hard.

It's much crueler to leave a sociable dog alone all day. They get bored, lonely and will certainly become much more stressed if left alone. They can become destructive and even snappy.

In the interim would puppy pads help with the soiling? It may be worth videoing him while youre out and seeing if hes really stressing or if he just cant hold on, if its the latter then I think Id reconsider the rehoming.

I'm sorry that I can't help with any further advice but I just wanted to say loud and clear, you absolutely are not the worst person in the world. You could not have predicted the pandemic and having to work every hour you all could just to keep the roof over your family and your dog's head. I'm so sorry you are in this awful situation and hope that you are able to find a solution. I would jump at the opportunity to walk a dog (even a nutty one) so I hope there's people local to you who can help.

OP I really sympathise and some of the responses you've had are awful. No one could have anticipated two years ago that covid was going to happen.
Try contacting the rescue that you got him from originally they may have a solution such as a volunteer to walk him etc. Could anyone use their lunch break to come home and spent time with him or maybe work from home for an afternoon or a day? Are there any local teenagers that could sit or walk him for some cash it may be cheaper than a walker.

You are not giving up on him, you are trying to give him the best home possible and that takes a lot of strength. I would be heartbroken to give up any of my dogs.

There are a couple of people here who have said they would consider having him but you don’t appear to have replied to them

I am at work and trying to keep up. I know a couple of people have suggested they could walk him but it isn't a long-term option and I feel like it just sticks a plaster over a wound I can't rely on the kindness of strangers and drag out something that isn't going to improve anytime soon.

Not that i'm not appreciative of the kindness, because I am.

If you aren't obliged to return him to the rescue he came from, give Pip at EGLR a ring. All the EGLR dogs go into foster homes, and they never, ever, put a dog down for anything but the dog not having a quality of life worth it.
And there isn't any judgement. This pandemic has made peoples lives change from everything that they thought it would be

I really think you should contact the rescue place and explain what has happened. Dogs need company, and his life isn't nice now. They may even have someone else in your area who has rescued a dog, who may be willing to help in some way.

We've recently had to ask the rescue our dog came from to take him back, it was one of the hardest things I have ever done but absolutely the right thing to do for him. I wish you luck and am so sorry you find yourselves in this awful position.

My heart is breaking for you and your poor pointy hound. No one could have predicted the massive changes in your life.

I grew up with lurchers and would love one of my own but DH isn't a dog person. If you lived near me I would happily walk him for free 2 or 3 days a week.

I do hope you find a solution.

Did you contact the cinnamon trust as suggested upthread?

I also think a greyhound rescue would be a better bet. There are many greyhound owners who have multiple greyhounds and could add another in. Or he could be fostered. Many greyhounds are 5/6 when retired anyway, so the idea of rehoming an older dog is normal. I appreciate yours is older than this, but still.
This isn’t your fault.

relievedlady said she would have him, not just to walk from the sound of her post.

If you check out her other posts, she has other dogs, two of them rescues.

Obviously you can’t just hand a dog over to any randomer on the internet but certainly worth investigating surely?

@relievedlady Sorry to speak about you as if you’re not here!

Do you have the Nextdoor app or group in your area @HappyMealWithLegs ? It might be worth posting on there to see if there is someone who could help.
I would also speak to the rescue you got him from and see what they can suggest. They might have volunteers who can come and visit, take him out during the day, for a donation.
Sounds like such a stressful situation, and one you just can't predict. I hope you find a solution that suits you all.

relievedlady - I had missed your second post, apologies. I am in Lancashire.

Did you contact the cinnamon trust as suggested upthread

No, I didn't. I am going to get in touch with the rescue he came from and explain the situation.